A goal in each half secured progression for the home side at the expense of a youthful City line-up, including six U18s in the starting XI.

Eaden admitted his side didn’t do enough throughout the game to warrant a place in the quarterfinal. He said: “Overall it was poor. We were too easy to play against, we didn’t create enough chances and we didn’t defend well enough.

“In the early stages you know what kind of game it is going to be, they’re going to make it difficult and you have to see that period off, and it seemed we were doing that to a certain extent.

“We were limiting them to half chances and the first real chance they get is in the back of the net and we’re chasing the game from then on.”

The Under-23s fielded six players who are part of the U18s setup, including bright prospects Tom Bayliss and defender Chris Camwell.

Eaden added: “It’s a learning curve and steep one. It is coming up to decision time in the new year for a lot of the lads with regards to contracts.

“Tonight was a chance to show their abilities and impress, and unfortunately it was a difficult game to do that.

“Once they got into a two goal lead they just kept men behind the ball and we weren’t clever enough to break them down. The lads have to learn from this for the future.”